ew still
closer in the gloom he determined to be revenged, even at the cost of
every Spaniard's life, for the dogged way in which the enemy had hunted
him down. He chose, as well as he could distinguish it, that part of the
coast which seemed the most rock-bound, and then, slackening his
vessel's speed, lured on the other for a time, then suddenly sped ahead
as though making for a known harbour. Deceived by this, the ship which
chased him followed on, and before even Jose himself was aware of the
outlying reefs of coral, they struck almost together. The next minute
Spaniard and Feringhee were struggling for their lives, while tremendous
seas were sweeping over the two ill-fated vessels.

[Illustration: "ONLY A SOLITARY SAILOR WAS LEFT."]

"The English ship went down, leaving only part of her mast to be seen,
to which for a time a few seamen clung until one by one the waves swept
them off, and out of the entire crew only a solitary sailor was left
there. The Spanish galleon struck nearer to the coast, and at low water
its hull could long afterwards be seen, but not a man aboard was saved.
The Feringhee sailor clung to the mast all through that dreary night.
Next morning, seizing a floating spar, he struck out for the shore and
battled with the seething waters until, almost unconscious, he was flung
high on the coral beach. Towards sunset the seaman rose, and struggling
forward to the entrance of one of the caves before him, he flung himself
down to sleep.

"The coolies say that the sailor afterwards explored a part of the
roast and then set about making his presence known to any vessel which
might chance to pass the island. Getting possession of part of the
broken mast of one of the ships, he raised it on the beach, and hoisted
to the top of it the tattered flag of the English vessel, which chanced
to be flung up by the waves. For weeks and months his signal passed
unnoticed; and meanwhile the sailor made a raft, and at low water
reached the hulk of the Spanish ship several times, from which by
degrees he carried away the treasure. This he hid in the cave which he
occupied, hoping that one day he would be rescued. He found arms and
ammunition in the galleon in abundance, and well it was for him that he
secured them and made them serviceable in case of need.

"Lying before the cave one day he saw the dusky forms of several savages
appear, at which the sailor immediately seized the nearest Spanish
musket and prepared t